MICHIGAN INVASIVE SPECIES ALERT: Millions of Giant – Goldfish?

Yup, there are football-sized goldfish swimming in the waters of Michigan's Great Lakes. Why? Because these little bowl dwellers turn into gigantic fish ninjas in the wild. They may look all sweet and docile in their bowl or aquarium, but once released into the wild, they wreak havoc on native species and the ecosystem.

Related: Invasive Creature Will Destroy Michigan! See It, Squish It Immediately!

Despite what you might think, the domesticated goldfish weren't always the Instagram feed-ready darlings they are today. Years of selective breeding turned the once olive-green fish into the Kardashians of the Great Lakes - flashy, attention-grabbing, and causing chaos wherever they go.

When Thinking Michigan Feral Goldfish, Size Matters (But, Not How You Think)

Unlike some species, the size of a goldfish isn't determined so much by genetics, but by their environment and the amount of food available. So a goldfish in a bowl will stunt its growth to adapt, but the opposite is also true.

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When Michigan families decide a fish is too much to handle and release it into one of our state's fine lakes, you're doing more harm than good. These once-small tank fish can grow up to 14 inches on average, with reports of Godzilla-sized reaching a whopping 19 inches and 9 pounds once they have access to more than a fish food sprinkle bottle.

Goldfish: The Invaders of Suburban Ponds and Michigan's Lakes

It may be hard to believe, but these pets that are sold in grocery stores have survival skills that would make cockroaches jealous. Goldfish can tolerate extreme temperature swings, and lower oxygen concentrations, and will eat just about anything that fits in their mouths.

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What's the big deal with a bunch of huge goldfish taking up residence in Mitten State waters? They are like your teenager's friends who come over after school, they eat everything and leave little for those who live there. Water visibility also suffers due to the goldfish's 'suck and spit' method of feeding on aquatic vegetation.

Alarming Number of Feral Goldfish in Michigan and How to Get Rid of Them

The estimated number of feral goldfish living in and upending the Great Lakes ecosystem is in the millions. Removing them is no small feat either. Minnesota held ten events recently and wiped out 1.6 million of them from a single chain of lakes. These fish may glitter, but they are anything but gold for Michigan's environment.

Related: Michigan Stink Bugs: To Squish or Not to Squish, That is the Question

Don't contribute to the chaos. Before you buy a goldfish or give one as a gift, consider whether or not the recipient will care for the animal or end up releasing it into the wild where it could become a real monster to Michigan's ecosystem.